KNOXVILLE — The trucking company suing Pilot Flying J accused CEO Jimmy Haslam of obstructing justice and buying off cheated customers in a motion for a restraining order filed today.

Attorneys Drew McElroy and Mark Tate claim Haslam's efforts to "do the right thing" have included asking customers to sign releases giving up their rights to sue.

"At issue in this case is the danger that ... defendants are inducing potential class members to waive important rights before they obtain proper legal advice or know the full extent of any damages they have," the attorneys wrote. "The amounts defendants are now offering potential class members may be well below the full amount of their claims. ... Defendants should not now be permitted to influence witnesses and pay what they should have paid years ago in an attempt to undermine the class-action process."

Knox County Circuit Judge Harold Wimberly could rule on the motion next week. Pilot lawyers weren't immediately available for comment on the motion but have denied the company's doing anything wrong.

Haslam has said he's making a point to meet with trucking customers who might have been shorted on fuel rebates and discounts and offer to repay them what they're owed.

Atlantic Coast Carriers of Hazelhurst, Ga., filed a lawsuit against Pilot in Circuit Court last week seeking class-action status and accusing the company of racketeering violations. Their attorneys, Tate and McElroy, say Haslam's apologies aren't good enough.

They say Pilot owes the company interest on the lost money, along with damages as punishment. Tate has said he expects other Pilot customers to sign onto the lawsuit soon, maybe in a matter of days.

FBI and Internal Revenue Service agents raided Pilot headquarters in West Knoxville last week as part of a probe into claims of fuel rebate fraud. Federal authorities have subpoenaed various Pilot sales executives but filed no charges so far.